The Turn of the Screw

KENTUCKY OPERA (1983)

THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Benjamin Britten, based on the novella by Henry James
Conductor: Robert Bernhardt
Cast: E. Davis, G. Siebert, C. Bober, S. Shuster-Craig
Production: J. Beecroft (scenery/lighting), B. Shamash (clothes)

“The Kentucky performance, directed by Nicholas Muni, was sensitive, accurate and powerfully moving…musically and dramatically adventurous, intelligent and imaginative in conception and execution. All the performances were detailed and Mr. Muni’s command of stage imagery and dramatic pacing was sure.”
– Andrew Porter, The New Yorker (November, 1983)

“Maybe The Turn of the Screw is surefire…I’ve never see a bad production. But the Kentucky Opera production seemed to me uncommonly good, gripping. The stage imagery of Nicholas Muni, the producer, was sure, one of the living operatic events of the season.”
– Andrew Porter, The London Financial Times (October, 1983)

“…imaginatively staged by Nicholas Muni, it was memorable. Muni inspired his cast to a telling performance. To help with the scene changes, director Muni marshaled a crew of supers with unobtrusive military precision.”
– William Mootz, Opera News (January, 1984)

“…an imaginative exercise in stylized stagecraft. The acting is so good that it does not call attention to itself…fascinating stage fare.”
– F.W. Woolsey, The Louisville Times (October, 1983)